Extraskeletal Myxoid Chondrosarcoma: A Comparative Study of Imaging and Pathology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to achieve better understanding of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMC). 13 cases of EMC confirmed by surgery biopsy were retrospectively studied. All patients underwent preoperative CT or/and MRI examinations. Among six patients who underwent preoperative CT examinations, six cases of lesions exhibited hypodensity on unenhanced image, three cases of tumor showed funicular spots or patchy calcification, and four cases of tumor did not show any obvious enhancement after enhanced CT scan. Among ten patients who underwent preoperative MRI examination, 8 cases of tumor revealed uniform or slight hyposignal intensity on T1WI, 10 cases of tumor demonstrated lobulated hypersignal intensity with multiple low signal intensity of interval septa on T2WI, and 5 cases of lesions indicated characteristic appearance: septa enhancement with tumor stroma between interval septa being unenhanced. EMC usually occurred at older men and at certain location such as limbs, trunk, and subcutaneous tissues. EMC usually exhibited low density mass (mostly 20-40HU) with calcification and in a portion of the cases showed light or no enhancement on CT. On MRI, EMC showed lobulated hypersignal intensity on T2WI with characteristic arc, septa, or interval septa enhancement.